A Nigerian lady identified as Emmanuella Shyllon, has been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force for declaring herself as a lesbian.
The indigene of Ogun State, South West Nigeria is facing stiff opposition after she announced on the social media that she is a known lesbian in Canada.
Recently, Shyllon had openly supported lesbianism on a social media platform, saying, “I am so sad and not very pleased with myself because I missed out on this year’s pride parade march which is themed ‘Here There Everywhere.’ Yes the gay society, we are everywhere and we need to create more awareness in the world so we can continually live in a space free from stigmatisation, isolation, hate crime, fear, humiliation amongst others.
“Our movement is usually symbolized with flags with the rainbow colour wherein red stands for life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, pink for sexuality, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony and violet for the soul. I love this gay and lesbian community so much simply because it promotes, protects my human rights. And respect my sexual orientation as a proud lesbian.
“This community LGBTQ+ protects all we gays and lesbians in the world irrespective of our culture, background, belief and skin colour. Regardless, I love women and I am not afraid to show it to the world. I am a proud lesbian. LGBTQ+ to the world!”
It appears the declaration offended the sensibilities of some Nigerians, who are averse to same-sex relationships.
In Nigeria, the anti same-sex Act stipulates that, “Persons who enter into a same-sex marriage, contract or civil union commit an offence and are each liable on conviction to a term of 14 years in prison.”
The law, signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, also states that, “Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison.”
Stemming from this, some Nigerians on the social media have accused Shyllon of corrupting the minds of the younger generation to practise same sex marriage/orientation, which they described as illegal, ungodly and uncultured.
The young lady is described as being a bad influence, who needs to be curbed out of her society in Nigeria.
Commenters on her post said Shyllon had so much effrontery to have posted “such a disgraceful and ridiculously shameful act of being proud as an LGBTQ.”
Our correspondent gathered that her family and friends back home seem to have rejected her due to what they called her “shameless sexual orientation.”
On the 13th of July, a Sharia Law official, AbdulAzeez Ibrahim, had made a formal complaint at the Area G Police Station, stating that he saw Ms Emmanuella A Shyllon’s post on her Facebook page (Emma Shyshy), “promoting and encouraging lesbianism and declaring herself one, against the law of Nigeria her country.”
Ibrahim had made reference to a post in which Emmanuella Shyllon had captioned a group photo thus: “Being a lesbian means that I have the opportunity to love what is not common and I am okay with that. I do not have to feel bad, hide my true identity or be fed up with life because of my sexual orientation. I love being with women. It is who I am, it is simply love. Love is love regardless.”
While asking that the lesbian be declared wanted, Ibrahim said, “It is very obvious that Emmanuella A Shyllon poses a bad influence to the future of Nigeria and she should be dealt with accordingly if found anywhere in the country.”
The police, it was gathered, have therefore, ordered the arrest of Shyllon any day she steps her feet on the Nigerian soil. This is to get her prosecuted and jailed if found guilty.
However, it was gathered that the said Ibrahim had also mobilised men all over Nigeria, giving them an order to attack Shyllon or stone her to death, in what can be described as jungle justice.
It is not clear whether or not Emmanuella would be in Nigeria anytime soon as efforts to reach her for comments proved abortive.